Local police say a six-year-old allegedly shot a teacher intentionally in Virginia on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
The Newport News police chief said the woman suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. The shooting — which took place at Richneck Elementary School — didn’t harm anyone else, including students.
Steve Drew, police chief, said the teacher’s conditions have improved since earlier.
“We did not have a situation where someone was going around the school shooting,” Drew said in a press conference to reporters. “We had a situation in one particular location where a gunshot was fired.”
But he emphasized that the shooting was not accidental.
The child allegedly had a handgun and was taken into custody by police.
“We have been in contact with our commonwealth attorney and some other entities to help us best get services to this young man,” Drew said, according to CBS.
The incident happened in a first-grade classroom, according to the superintendent George Parker III.
“Today our students got a lesson in gun violence,” Parker said. “This is terrible … This is something that should never occur, and I think we’re all in shock and we all understand that we have a lot of work to do as a community to make sure things like this don’t occur.”
Parker said there are metal detectors throughout the school district, but they are used randomly.
Phillip Jones, mayor of Newport News, said that the shooting “hurts my heart.”
“It’s a dark day for Newport News,” Jones said. “We’re going to learn from this, and we’re going to come back stronger.”
Richneck Elementary School, which has approximately 550 students from kindergarten to 5th grade, said there will be no classes on Monday.
Newport News is a city with a population of more than 185,000 people in the southeast of Virginia known for building U.S. Navy vessels including aircraft carriers.
Would love to get more demographic info on this 6 year old, but more than likely it won’t be forthcoming.
Just curious why the demographics matters? But an interesting enough question.
I would like to know where did the child get the gun, when was he taught to use it, and why wasn’t it in a secured location. In addition, what caused the child to make him what to shoot the teacher period. There are a lot of unknowns her to be discovered.
You don’t need to be taught how to use a gun, son. You need to be taught how to use it properly and safely. There’s a difference. Point and pull the trigger isn’t that difficult.
I am curious as to why he shot the teacher too.
Look up where Rickneck Elementary School is located in VA then you can get the demographics.
He was black. How can I tell? If he was white it would have been plastered all through the article.
You can’t let it lay, got to bring race in to it.
Agree
Where are the parents,who is responsible for this kid’s actions?
Most likely the child of a single mother.
Most certainly the parents need to held fully accountable in this situation. How did this child process in his mind to “intentionally” shoot this teacher, unless the family members in his household put those thoughts in the mind of that child. They need to go to jail or be slapped with a very heavy fine and community services…
No matter whether this child was white. Black or Brown the parent or parents should be prosecuted to the extent of the law possible.
Wonder if this happens if the correct pronoun is not used.
We want and deserve to know about this child! We know he is six years old, what else?? I didn’t see anything about the parents or where did he get the gun?? Not enough informative in this article!!
Why do you “deserve” to know about this child? Would you then be able to help him, his parents, or the victim get past this incident? How would you knowing that change your life in any way?
He’s not a young man.. he’s a young child! What do they do with a 6year old in jail? Give him a color book? He must have seen a lot of violence at his age to do something as terrifying as this! Not condoling his actions at all! Just shocked a child of this age planned thiss!